Dr. Perez's research focuses on the identification of biomarkers that may predict vulnerability for psychosis in individuals who are at clinical high-risk for the development of schizophrenia. She applies basic neuroscience methods to a clinical population to clarify the pathophysiology that underlies the day-to-day impairments in patients with schizophrenia.
Using event-related potentials (ERPs) and time frequency analysis, she examines the neural mechanisms underlying basic sensory and perceptual processes, such as the corollary discharge mechanism, and the brain processes underlying higher order cognitive function, e.g., attention and error processing. By examining the building blocks of dysfunction in schizophrenia, she hopes to inform preventive intervention strategies, allowing early treatment to be targeted to those patients who need it most.